Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Too Many Mad Bastards - 1
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Snore―
"...Based on the above incident, I believe it's necessary to dispatch an investigation team immediately and take appropriate measures."
If someone was sleeping in the conference room, the natural thing would be to wake them up and kick them out.
But no one could do that.
Because the one sleeping was Dajeong.
She had pushed two chairs together and was snoring away soundly.
She hadn't come to the conference room specifically to sleep; people had just come in for a meeting while she was already asleep.
It was their oversight not to explain the room's purpose.
Jang Won-taek rubbed his tired eyes and nodded toward the man sitting next to her.
"We'll leave the investigation to Dajeong. Wake her up."
"Pardon? Wake her... up?"
The man jumped in surprise and cautiously poked her.
The sleeping woman herself wasn't that scary, but the ghoul behind her was plenty terrifying.
The only monster allowed in and out of this shelter.
Thanks to Dajeong's power, it retained a perfectly human form, unlike regular ghouls.
If you ignored its height easily over two meters and arms as thick as a person's waist, that is.
Fortunately, it didn't react to the man's actions.
Maybe it had orders not to harm the shelter's residents?
When the man just kept poking Dajeong's shoulder, Beom-seok stepped in.
He approached her and shook her shoulder firmly.
"Dajeong, Dajeong, wake up."
"Nngh... too tight..."
What kind of dream was she having?
People cleared their throats awkwardly, and only then did Dajeong wake up, slowly opening her eyes.
"...What? Why's everyone gathered here? Planning to do something to me?"
Her gaze turned to Jang Won-taek, who responded with a weary smile.
"No, nothing like that. Anyway, we have a job for you. Care to take it?"
"A job for me?"
"You gotta earn your keep."
At the mention of earning her keep, Dajeong pouted and sat up straight.
She was starting to regret coming here.
The government shelter ran on a set of established rules.
Not as rigidly as the military, but still.
The carefree life of eating when hungry and sleeping when tired was long gone.
The man from earlier summarized for her.
"Something strange is happening on Bam Island. It's not erosion, but otherworld plants are overflowing. We'd like you to investigate."
"Hmm, not erosion season."
Erosion referred to when plant-type monsters overran the land.
Zombies and ghouls would turn into plant-types after exhausting their energy and ceasing activity.
Jang Won-taek added,
"To be precise, this isn't erosion. We're guessing seeds brought by otherworld monsters germinated after being carried by the wind. Secure samples and check if it's affecting the mainland."
Dajeong propped her chin and yawned.
"Can I burn it down after investigating? Gotta disinfect the filth."
"Arson? But it's an ecological preserve..."
"That's only when Korea was still fine. Nothing left now, right?"
"Heh..."
Harsh, but not wrong.
With doom knocking at the door, what was wrong with extreme measures?
But this case needed more observation.
Jang Won-taek soothed her.
"Next erosion, you can burn it to the ground."
"Aw, lame."
Anyway, Bam Island investigation was assigned to Dajeong.
The meeting decided other major matters too, but to Dajeong, it was pure boredom.
"Ugh... total snoozefest."
She was pissed.
Normally, she'd be washing up with zombie-fetched water and eating with Yoo-hyun.
Here, it was just drab old men.
Sung-ho, who sent her here, was probably hanging out with Topkong having a blast right now.
Imagining the two streaking naked through the city, Dajeong suddenly got excited.
"I wanna play too!"
She jumped up, and Won-taek signaled everyone while organizing papers.
"That's it for today. Everyone, stick to your duties."
The room emptied in seconds.
Dajeong slumped back, propping her feet on the table.
Someone entered and sat beside her.
"First time meeting. Name's Joo Seung-chul."
Her head turned slightly.
A handsome man was smiling brightly at her.
"Sounds familiar..."
"Probably from the news. Daehyeon Group heir, third generation."
"Ah, got it. No wheelchair, though?"
"Too young for that. Gotta be at least 65."
Seung-chul brushed off her jab lightly.
He gazed at the conference room ceiling with wistful regret.
"When the end was near, I wasn't here. Built my own shelter. Know why I came?"
"Not really curious."
Dajeong seemed uninterested, but Seung-chul pressed on.
"To meet the veterans. Especially you."
"And? Wanna throw me on the bed and spread my legs?"
Seung-chul flinched at her crude words but recovered smoothly.
"I'd be lying if I said your looks didn't catch my eye. But I value ability more."
"So, what's your point? Wanna use me to take over the shelter, you scheming bastard?"
Scheming bastard—maybe referring to Geom-in?
As Seung-chul searched for words, Geom-in entered.
He smiled broadly at Dajeong, then scowled at Seung-chul.
"Meeting's over, right...?"
"Having our own little meeting. Say what you gotta say."
To Geom-in, it sounded like "speak and get lost."
The subtle flaunting of closeness with Dajeong grated too.
As the two glared, Dajeong ignored them, stretched, and summoned her ghouls.
"Prep for outing."
"Dajeong, wait..."
"We weren't done..."
The men called after her, but she strode out unheeding.
The shelter door opened, revealing the desolate surface.
Even now, a few fighters battled zombies outside.
Spotting Dajeong, they retreated immediately.
"Zombie Queen!"
"Fall back!"
Dajeong, too lazy for nicknames like New Boy Era, stepped forward and flicked her hand.
The ghouls, awaiting orders, roared and charged.
The fight was one-sided.
Dajeong's ghouls were already strong, now buffed and enhanced.
Regular zombies shattered like twigs against enhanced ghouls.
Especially Bulk, the hulking enhanced ghoul, shone.
"Annoying. Smash 'em all."
Kuooo!
Bulk roared at the command, pummeling zombies.
Its head-sized fists turned zombie skulls to mush.
Zombie raid over in a flash.
Ghouls started devouring zombies; people turned away in disgust.
Geom-in, smoking at the entrance, glanced at Seung-chul beside him.
"Phew... Dajeong came here for me. Back off."
"News to me. Heard she came for the president's interest."
"That's not the truth. We've gamed thousands of hours together. No one can touch our history."
"For thousands of hours' worth, she was pretty cold. Maybe you're deluded, Geom-in."
Geom-in flinched.
He'd bragged about recruiting the Zombie Queen, but she wasn't cooperating.
Shouldn't have boasted...
But spilled milk.
He had to win Dajeong over somehow.
She spotted the two on her way back and froze.
"Ugh... so boring."
The thought of their nonsense soured her mood.
Just hold out till Sung-ho and Topkong arrive...
She climbed onto Bulk's broad shoulder.
"To Bam Island!"
Dozens of ghouls moved; Geom-in considered following but gave up.
No courage to bridge the gap.
He stared at her back longingly before trudging inside weakly.
Cheol-seong slipped into a dark building.
His body was mangled from their attacks.
But he had transcendent toughness and recovery.
He wouldn't go down easy.
"Hoo, hoo..."
Even as he panted roughly, bleeding stopped and wounds healed.
Gnashing his teeth in recalled pain.
"That bastard..."
The intruder was likely Kimbap Lover.
Hard to imagine anyone bold enough to team with Topkong against him.
Duck Down Quack was female, Survivor1 in government shelter.
Only Kimbap Lover left.
"Heh, heh..."
A laugh escaped.
Finally, finally found him.
The one who treated him like a national treasure.
Auction house scans showed no one else hunting him.
Should he post info and corner him?
"...Nah."
Cheol-seong wanted no outside help.
Kimbap Lover and Topkong had to die by his hand.
Linking game grudges to reality was foolish, but who cared?
Game was reality now.
"Wait..."
He'd track and kill them to the end.
But first, analyze their power.
Topkong aside, Kimbap Lover's traits were unclear.
Just pulling weapons from subspace?
'Can hide his body too...'
Escaping his sight pointed to that.
Meaning Kimbap Lover could strike at will.
'Bolt from an ally? Not Topkong—someone else.'
Maybe 1v3.
Risky.
Unprepared, he'd lost to two; three could kill him.
Focus on hunting for now...
Hit level 20, kill more survivors, get stronger.
"...Fine."
He'd go all in.
Cheol-seong patched up and headed to his subordinates.
His heavy footsteps drew a few.
"Boss, what about Topkong?"
"If you pinned him, we'll fetch him."
"No... no need."
Cheol-seong sliced the overconfident men with his ceramic knife.
Blood sprayed in the small room.
"Gah!"
"Y-you why..."
"Pffft!"
A half-decapitated subordinate wheezed dying; Cheol-seong didn't blink.
In a predator-prey world, what's wrong with the top dog hunting?
"Hmm..."
Sacrificing three leveled his killer trait Blood Tribute to 3, pushing strength past 25.
Fists that pulverized concrete.
But unsatisfied.
Overinvested in strength; couldn't track Topkong's moves—a key loss.
1v1, he'd crush instantly; blame Kimbap Lover...
'Need more deaths.'
Start by wiping Changwon's crew.
Then face them stronger.
Once dead...
Cheol-seong paused.
After killing? Build forces? No thrill.
He'd seen that fight already.
Only veterans excited him.
Others too weak.
"Can't kill easy... heh..."
Cats don't kill mice quick.
Toy till bored, then bite.
'Make him retract "national treasure."'
His obsession stemmed from that insult.
Penalty-crippled killer daring...
Funny: other veterans agreed, avoiding him.
Losers anyway...
Cheol-seong flexed, rising his bulk.
Gaze north.
Suspicion they headed to Seoul now certainty.
Auction rumors: Duck Down Quack in gov shelter.
Remaining vets to Seoul too.
He'd follow slowly, powering up.
Once there...
'Deathmatches for all... wait.'
Cheol-seong headed to his men.
Drip drip―
Rain poured since morning.
Peering out, weeds sprouted thick between sidewalk blocks.
Nature's resilience: cities reclaimed in years.
Otherworld plant monsters joining...
I stood, rolling shoulders.
Overdid it yesterday; fatigue lingered.
Turning, Topkong—no, Seok-hyun shaved before the mirror.
"Buzzing it all?"
"Easier with a hat."
"Said disguise, not bald..."
"Hair's whatever. Trim the back?"
"...Sure."
I took the ceramic knife, buzzed Seok-hyun's nape.
He fidgeted, shaving beard with mithril knife.
Seok-hyun bald save eyebrows.
Hatted, sharp-eyed hunk appeared.
"Nice. Looking good."
Past Topkong spotters wouldn't link.
Clothed, look and vibe transformed.
I patted his shoulder.
"Eat, then head out morning."
"Menu?"
"Rice, miso soup, grilled fish, kimchi."
Expected joy at rare full meal; he sulked.
No meat?
"You've eaten only meat? Need veggies. Balanced diet."
"Animals eat veggies, so fine."
Eating animal ingests its veggies? Weird logic.
Couldn't argue.
Craved meat, so provide.
Caught, cleaned shelter pheasant, took outside.
Seok-hyun eyed interior curiously.
"Dajeong gave that look. Asked if raccoons inside."
"Real raccoons?"
"No, others."
Pheasant roasting scent woke sleeping Dingo.
It settled between us, head on paws politely.
As pheasant stewed, chatted with Seok-hyun.
Mostly gov shelter, Survivor1.
"Gov shelter has guns. Waiting out metal plague to retrieve. Sent Dajeong to scout."
"Guns? Can't hide forever."
"Buried hundreds meters deep. Plague's particles don't reach."
Auction crypto-chat with Dajeong.
She was salty.
Thought we played without her.
We fought killers, barely survived.
To her, maybe fun.
"Oho. Chaos incoming."
"Control it, rule Korea. Geom-in's aiming."
Seok-hyun propped chin on hand.
"Sounds fun."
"Fun for you. I got one life."
"Why one? Trait proves otherwise. Skill later. One-use though."
"...Joking, right?"
"Serious. Anything possible now."
True...
Recalled speedrun, first-kill skills, penalties—unseen in main game.
Monsters attacking humans; resurrection skill? Plausible.
Infinite respawn trait existed.
"Maybe you're right."
I conceded; Seok-hyun grinned satisfied.
"So next danger, fight brave, die. I'll revive."
"Nah."
Such monster.
Anyway, before Seoul, raid Changwon clan base.
National Treasure's moves predictable.
"He'll kill minions, chase us. We take loot."
"Stronger per kill."
"Yeah..."
He'd pursue to Seoul.
Should've shot then...
No kill certainty.
Past killer endured.
Annoys chasing tail.
Wait.
Reverse...
I tapped Seok-hyun's arm, lowered voice.
"Follow him."
"Us?"
"Yeah. Hate tails. He'll kill minions, level up, right?"
"We wreck?"
"Our specialty."
"Sex."
Seok-hyun clapped, jumped up, did Cossack dance.
Complained no ghouls for old vibe, tried squat-jump.
"Seok-hyun, stop!"
Barely grabbed him.
Not right in head.
Me neither.
End of Too Many Mad Bastards - 1